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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Gilgamesh (''Final Fantasy V'')}}
[[File:FF5 Gilgamesh.jpg|250px|right|Yoshitaka Amano artwork.]]
 
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<!--note: do NOT add an other appearances section to this article. other appearances of Gilgamesh are documented on his recurring character page, not on here; technically, all appearances of Gilgamesh are derivative of his FFV appearance anyway.-->
{{See Also|Gilgamesh (Character)}}
 
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{{infobox character
<span class="sprite-image">[[File:FFVAGilgameshmenu.png|56px|Gilgamesh Advance portrait|left]]</span>
 
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|name=Gilgamesh
{{Q|Enough expository banter! Now we fight like men! And ladies! And ladies who dress like men! For Gilgamesh...it is morphing time!|Gilgamesh}}
 
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|release=FFV
'''Gilgamesh''' {{j|ギルガメッシュ|Girugamesshu}} is a recurring [[boss]] and a villain in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''. The right hand man of [[Exdeath]] and declaring [[Bartz Klauser]] his rival, Gilgamesh fights the [[Warriors of Light#Final Fantasy V|Warriors of Light]] on many occasions. Though antagonistic toward the party, Gilgamesh serves as comic relief.
 
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|japanese=ギルガメッシュ
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|romaji=Girugamesshu
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|image=FF5 Gilgamesh.jpg
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|portrait=[[File:FFVAGilgameshmenu.png|Portrait (Advance).]][[File:Gilgamesh-ffv-ios-portrait.png|50px|Gilgamesh portrait (iOS).]]
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|sprite=[[File:FFV gilgamesh.gif|Gilgamesh's field sprite (SFC/PS).]][[File:FFV iOS Gilgamesh Field.png|Gilgamesh's field sprite (iOS).]]
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|affiliation=[[Exdeath]]
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|hobby=Sword collector
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|race=Humanoid
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|gender=Male
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|type=boss
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|designer=[[Tetsuya Nomura]] and [[Yoshitaka Amano]]<ref name="vjump"/>
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|boss page=Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy V boss)
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|recurring appearance=Gilgamesh (character)
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|ffrk=true
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|ffbe=true
 
}}
 
{{Quote|Enough expository banter! Now we fight like men! And ladies! And ladies who dress like men! For Gilgamesh...it is morphing time!|Gilgamesh}}
 
'''Gilgamesh''' is a recurring [[boss]] and antagonist in ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''. The right-hand man of [[Exdeath]] who declares [[Bartz Klauser]] as his rival, Gilgamesh fights the [[Warriors of Light#Final Fantasy V|Warriors of Light]] on many occasions. Though antagonistic toward the party, Gilgamesh serves as comic relief.
   
Gilgamesh is the first recurring boss in the ''Final Fantasy'' series, and has since made numerous appearances in the series retaining many of his characteristics from ''Final Fantasy V'', such as his affinity to search out swords of legend.
+
Gilgamesh is the first recurring character in the ''[[Final Fantasy series|Final Fantasy]]'' series, and has since made [[Gilgamesh (character)|numerous appearances in the series]] retaining many of his characteristics from ''Final Fantasy V'', such as his affinity to search out swords of legend.
   
 
==Profile==
 
==Profile==
 
===Appearance===
 
===Appearance===
[[File:FFV iOS Gilgamesh.png|150px|right|Gilgamesh's battle sprite (iOS).]]
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[[File:Gilgamesh1-ffv-ios.png|left|Gilgamesh's battle sprite (iOS).]]
Gilgamesh has a pale gray complexion, thick red/orange armor and cape, and is a humanoid. His sprite contains a battle pose with his knee bent forward, presumably signifying readiness for combat. He wields a lance, hinting that he is a [[Dragoon (Job)|Dragoon]] (he also uses the [[Jump (Ability)|Jump]] in one of his encounters).
+
Gilgamesh is a humanoid with a pale gray complexion and thick red/orange armor and cape. His sprite contains a battle pose with his knee bent forward, presumably signifying readiness for combat. He wields a lance, hinting that he is a [[Dragoon (job)|Dragoon]] (he also uses the [[Jump (ability)|Jump]] command in one of his encounters).
   
 
{{spoiler}}
 
{{spoiler}}
After his "morphing time" in [[Castle Exdeath]], Gilgamesh's true form is revealed. He has multiple limbs, all of which wield different weapons, and no longer retains his sprite's battle pose, instead standing tall and upright. His armor has thinned as he appears more threatening with his weapons instead. Despite his appearance change, Gilgamesh's personality remains the same.
+
After his "morphing time" in [[Castle Exdeath]], Gilgamesh's true form is revealed. He has multiple limbs, all of which wield different weapons, and no longer retains his sprite's battle pose, instead standing tall and upright and his armor has thinned. Despite his appearance change, Gilgamesh's personality remains the same.
   
 
===Personality===
 
===Personality===
While he is Exdeath's right man, Gilgamesh is not necessarily evil, and does not share Exdeath's goals. Rather, Gilgamesh fights mostly to prove himself and as a challenge. During their encounters Gilgamesh exchanges banter with the Warriors of Light and while he claims to be a powerful fighter, and his lore supports this, he often gives the Warriors excuses for running away mid-battle. Gilgamesh speaks in a tone that appears to be upper class, though he is clumsy and has comedic value.
+
While he is Exdeath's right-hand man, Gilgamesh is not necessarily evil, and does not share Exdeath's goals. Rather, Gilgamesh fights to prove himself and as a challenge. During their encounters Gilgamesh exchanges banter with the Warriors of Light, and while he claims to be a powerful fighter—and lore supports this—he often gives the Warriors excuses for running away mid-battle. Gilgamesh speaks in an upper class tone though he is clumsy and unrefined otherwise.
{{-}}
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{{clear}}
   
 
==Story==
 
==Story==
 
[[File:Gilgamesh_Xezat%27s_Fleet.jpg|thumb|Gilgamesh appears on Xezat's fleet.]]
 
[[File:Gilgamesh_Xezat%27s_Fleet.jpg|thumb|Gilgamesh appears on Xezat's fleet.]]
In an interview, [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]] alludes to Gilgamesh's early life of growing up in a village of warriors. The [[Genji Equipment|Genji equipment]] sets were ancient and precious sets of armor from the village passed on to its best warriors upon proving their worth in battle. It is said that the centuries of "blood, sweat and dust" accumulated on the Genji equipment have made them extremely resistant.<ref name="vjump">''V-Jump'', {{j|チョコボのFF研究室|Chokobo no FF Kenkyūshitsu|Chocobo's FF Laboratory|fmt=j(r)}}, November 1993, p.188-192.</ref>
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In an interview, [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]] has alluded to Gilgamesh's early life of growing up in a village of warriors. The [[Genji equipment]] sets were ancient and precious sets of armor from the village passed on to its best warriors upon proving their worth in battle. It is said that the centuries of "blood, sweat and dust" accumulated on the Genji equipment have made them extremely resistant.<ref name="vjump">''V-Jump'', {{j|チョコボのFF研究室|Chokobo no FF Kenkyūshitsu|Chocobo's FF Laboratory|fmt=j(r)}}, November 1993, p.188-192.</ref>
   
Gilgamesh came to work for Exdeath and is commanded to guard the prisoners Bartz, [[Lenna Charlotte Tycoon|Lenna]], and [[Faris Scherwiz|Faris]] in Castle Exdeath. Galuf saves the trio and easily defeats Gilgamesh, and the latter runs off. When the party crosses the [[Big Bridge]] after escaping Castle Exdeath Gilgamesh halts their path. They defeat him even though he casts [[Protect (Ability)|Protect]], [[Shell (Ability)|Shell]] and [[Haste (Ability)|Haste]] on himself, and he makes up an excuse and runs off again.
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Gilgamesh came to work for Exdeath and is commanded to guard the prisoners Bartz, [[Lenna Charlotte Tycoon|Lenna]] and [[Faris Scherwiz|Faris]] in Castle Exdeath. [[Galuf Halm Baldesion|Galuf]] saves the trio and easily defeats Gilgamesh, and the latter runs off. When the party crosses the [[Big Bridge (Final Fantasy V)|Big Bridge]] after escaping Castle Exdeath, Gilgamesh halts their progress. They defeat him even though he casts [[Protect (ability)|Protect]], [[Shell (ability)|Shell]] and [[Haste (ability)|Haste]] on himself, and he makes up an excuse and runs off again.
   
Gilgamesh attacks the [[List of Boats#Final Fantasy V|ship]] the party and [[Xezat Matias Surgate|Xezat]] are on during the battle to unlock the barrier surrounding Castle Exdeath, and brings an ally with him: [[Enkidu]]. The party defeats him, and Gilgamesh is thrown into the ocean after attempting to take Galuf with him. Swearing revenge, he swims off.
+
Gilgamesh attacks the [[List of boats#Final Fantasy V|ship]] the party and [[Xezat Matias Surgate|Xezat]] are on during the battle to unlock the barrier surrounding Castle Exdeath, and brings an ally with him: [[Enkidu]]. The party defeats the duo, and Gilgamesh is thrown into the ocean after attempting to take Galuf with him. Swearing revenge, he swims off.
   
 
[[File:Gilgamesh_Castle_Exdeath.jpg|thumb|left|Gilgamesh reveals his true form in Castle Exdeath.]]
 
[[File:Gilgamesh_Castle_Exdeath.jpg|thumb|left|Gilgamesh reveals his true form in Castle Exdeath.]]
When the party attacks Castle Exdeath Gilgamesh attacks again and halfway through the battle transforms into his true form, hoping to use the blade he had taken from a chest shortly before the fight, the Excalibur, to defeat the party. Finding himself unable to hurt the party, the sword turns out to be the [[List of Final Fantasy V Weapons#Excalipoor|Excalipoor]], a weak replica of the Excalibur. Exdeath banishes Gilgamesh to the [[Void (Final Fantasy V)|Void]] as punishment for his incompetence.
+
When the party attacks Castle Exdeath Gilgamesh attacks again, and halfway through the battle transforms into his true form, hoping to use the blade he had taken from a chest shortly before the fight, the [[Excalibur (weapon)|Excalibur]], to defeat the party. Finding himself unable to hurt the party, the sword turns out to be the [[Excalipoor (weapon)|Excalipoor]], a weak replica. Exdeath banishes Gilgamesh to the [[Void (Final Fantasy V)|Void]] as punishment for his incompetence.
   
 
[[File:Gilgamesh_Necrophobe.jpg|thumb|Gilgamesh appears to help the party defeat Necrophobe.]]
 
[[File:Gilgamesh_Necrophobe.jpg|thumb|Gilgamesh appears to help the party defeat Necrophobe.]]
Gilgamesh is lost in the Void, fighting monster after monster. When Gilgamesh runs into Bartz's party in the Void he at first mistakes them for monsters before recognizing them. Gilgamesh no longer wishes to serve Exdeath and simply wants to leave the Void, but realizes there is no way to do this. When the party attacks [[Necrophobe (Final Fantasy V)|Necrophobe]], Gilgamesh arrives to support the party. He sacrifices himself to save them and defeat Necrophobe, but if the party defeats Necrophobe before Gilgamesh sacrifices himself, he can be considered alive, although he will not appear again.
+
Gilgamesh gets lost in the Void, fighting monster after monster, and when he runs into Bartz's party he at first mistakes them for monsters. Gilgamesh no longer wishes to serve Exdeath and simply wants to leave the Void, but realizes there is no escape. When the party attacks [[Necrophobe (Final Fantasy V)|Necrophobe]], Gilgamesh arrives to support the party. He sacrifices himself to save them and defeat Necrophobe. Though it is possible to defeat Necrophobe before Gilgamesh sacrifices himself, he will not appear again.
{{-}}
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{{clear}}
 
{{endspoiler}}
 
{{endspoiler}}
   
 
==Gameplay==
 
==Gameplay==
{{Main|Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy V Boss)}}
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{{Main|Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy V boss)}}
Gilgamesh is a recurring boss who knows many different [[Blue Magic (Final Fantasy V)|Blue Magic]] spells, as well as the [[Dragoon (Final Fantasy V)|Dragoon]]'s [[Jump (Ability)|Jump]].
+
Gilgamesh is a recurring boss who knows many different [[Blue Magic (Final Fantasy V)|Blue Magic]] spells, as well as the [[Dragoon (Final Fantasy V)|Dragoon's]] [[Jump (ability)|Jump]].
   
==Musical Themes==
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==Musical themes==
{{Listen|filename=Clash on the Big Bridge.ogg|songname="Battle at the Big Bridge"}}
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{{audio|filename=Clash on the Big Bridge.ogg|title="Battle at the Big Bridge"}}
 
{{Main|Battle at the Big Bridge}}
 
{{Main|Battle at the Big Bridge}}
Gilgamesh' leitmotif "Battle at the Big Bridge" made its debut in his ''Final Fantasy V'' appearance, and plays during all encounters with him and at the Big Bridge. Since its introduction, the theme has been used to accompany Gilgamesh during many of his appearances outside of ''Final Fantasy V''.
+
Gilgamesh's leitmotiv, "Battle at the Big Bridge," debuted in ''Final Fantasy V'', and plays during all encounters with him and at the Big Bridge. Variations of the theme have since been used to accompany Gilgamesh during many of his appearances outside of ''Final Fantasy V''.
   
  +
==Creation and development==
==Other Appearances==
 
  +
According to the fifth "Chocobo's FF Laboratory" feature published in the November 1993 edition of ''V-Jump'', the initial design for Gilgamesh was created by [[Tetsuya Nomura]], although [[Yoshitaka Amano]] was the one who drew the character's final artwork. The magazine states that Nomura's initial design looked like a cross between Gilgamesh's first and second in-game forms.<ref name="vjump">''V-Jump'', {{j|"Chocobo's FF Laboratory"|チョコボのFF研究室}}, November 1993, p.188-192.</ref>
''Note: these are for Gilgamesh' appearances strictly based on his ''Final Fantasy V'' appearance. For other appearances, see [[Gilgamesh (Character)#Other Appearances|here]].''
 
   
 
==Other appearances==
===''[[Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]''===
 
 
===''[[Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]''===
{{sideicon|D012}}
 
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{{Main|/Record Keeper}}
[[File:Gilgamesh Full.png|right|250px|Artwork of Gilgamesh for ''Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy''.]]
 
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The ''Final Fantasy V'' incarnation of Gilgamesh appears as a playable character and a boss.
{{Main|Gilgamesh (Final Fantasy V)/Dissidia}}
 
Gilgamesh is a secret playable character in ''Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy'', marking his first fully playable appearance. Mimicking several of his other appearances, Gilgamesh's appearance in ''Dissidia 012'' is a coincidence, as he stumbles into [[World B]] where the wars are taking place while traveling through the Void and the worlds connected to it.
 
   
  +
===''[[Final Fantasy Brave Exvius]]''===
Sensing Bartz in the world he seeks out his rival for their promised rematch, but Bartz has lost his memories and cannot remember him. Nonetheless he accepts Gilgamesh's challenge and defeats him, and though he was not summoned by a god Gilgamesh is subject to the war's rules and is sent back to where he entered the world from, a portal to the Void engulfing him.
 
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{{Main|/Brave Exvius}}
 
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The ''Final Fantasy V'' incarnation of Gilgamesh appears as a summonable [[vision]] and a boss. As a playable [[Unit (term)|unit]], Gilgamesh is a 5-7★ Rare Summon. His job is listed as Guard Captain, and his role is Physical Damage. He appears as boss in the event [[The Big Bridge (Brave Exvius)|The Big Bridge]].
Despite appearing as a playable character, the summon version of Gilgamesh from the first ''Dissidia'' returns, and is even used by him in the story battle against him. Like other summons, it functions identically to how it did in the first game.
 
 
{{clear}}
 
Gilgamesh's first alternate outfit is based on his ''Final Fantasy VIII'' appearance, giving him lighter armor and a red cloak. His second alternate outfit is based on his battle sprite, giving him heavier full plate armor. As a bonus fourth outfit, Gilgamesh takes on his ''Final Fantasy Type-0'' appearance, a suit of red and black armor. This outfit was made available to those in attendance of a ''Dissidia 012'' tournament in Japan, and was never released in other areas.
 
 
Gilgamesh's brings a wide variety of weapons with him in ''Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy'', each one having different effects when drawn in battle. The weapons he wields in this game are his traditional Excalibur, Excalipoor, Masamune, and Zantetsuken swords, as well as the [[Genji Equipment|Genji Blade]], the [[Chicken Knife]], the [[Naginata]] spear, and the [[Battle Axe]].
 
 
All of Gilgamesh's HP Attacks in ''Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy'' are references to the same attacks he used in his various battles in ''Final Fantasy V''. The attacks include [[Death Claw (Ability)|Death Claw]], [[Rocket Punch (Ability)|Rocket Punch]], [[Missile (Ability)|Missile]], [[Jump (Ability)|Jump]], [[Sword Dance (Ability)|Sword Dance]], and [[Hurricane]].
 
{{-}}
 
 
===''[[Pictlogica Final Fantasy]]''===
 
{{sideicon|PFF}}
 
[[File:PFF Gilgamesh.png|right|100px]]
 
Gilgamesh's appearance in ''Final Fantasy V'' appears in ''Pictlogica Final Fantasy'' as an enemy.
 
{{-}}
 
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
{{gallery|class=FFVa
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<gallery>
|File:Gilgamesh FFV Art.jpg|Tetsuya Nomura artwork.
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Gilgamesh FFV Art.jpg|Tetsuya Nomura artwork.
|File:Gilgamesh FFV Art (transformed).jpg|Tetsuya Nomura artwork of a transformed Gilgamesh.
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Gilgamesh FFV Art (transformed).jpg|Tetsuya Nomura artwork of a transformed Gilgamesh.
|File:Gilgameshvsbutz.jpg|Yoshitaka Amano artwork of Gilgamesh and Bartz for ''Final Fantasy V'' (Advance).
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Gilgameshvsbutz.jpg|Yoshitaka Amano artwork of Gilgamesh and Bartz for ''Final Fantasy V'' (Advance).
|File:FFV gilgamesh.gif|Gilgamesh's field sprite (SFC/PS).
+
FFV-gilgamesh3.gif|Gilgamesh's last form battle sprite (GBA).
|File:FFV iOS Gilgamesh Field.png|Gilgamesh's field sprite (iOS).
+
Gilgamesh2-ffv-ios.png|Gilgamesh's last form battle sprite (iOS).
  +
</gallery>
|File:FFV-gilgamesh3.gif|Gilgamesh's last form battle sprite (GBA).
 
|File:FFV iOS Gilgamesh Trasformed.png|Gilgamesh's last form battle sprite (iOS).
 
|File:Gilgamesh-ffv-ios-portrait.png|Portrait in mobile versions.
 
}}
 
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
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{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
   
{{FFV}}
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{{navbox characters FFV}}
[[Category:Final Fantasy V Characters]]
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[[Category:Characters in Final Fantasy V]]
[[Category:Villains]]
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[[Category:Antagonists]]
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[[Category:Gilgamesh]]

Revision as of 16:58, 17 January 2020

Template:Sideicon

Enough expository banter! Now we fight like men! And ladies! And ladies who dress like men! For Gilgamesh...it is morphing time!

Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is a recurring boss and antagonist in Final Fantasy V. The right-hand man of Exdeath who declares Bartz Klauser as his rival, Gilgamesh fights the Warriors of Light on many occasions. Though antagonistic toward the party, Gilgamesh serves as comic relief.

Gilgamesh is the first recurring character in the Final Fantasy series, and has since made numerous appearances in the series retaining many of his characteristics from Final Fantasy V, such as his affinity to search out swords of legend.

Profile

Appearance

Gilgamesh's battle sprite (iOS).

Gilgamesh is a humanoid with a pale gray complexion and thick red/orange armor and cape. His sprite contains a battle pose with his knee bent forward, presumably signifying readiness for combat. He wields a lance, hinting that he is a Dragoon (he also uses the Jump command in one of his encounters).

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

After his "morphing time" in Castle Exdeath, Gilgamesh's true form is revealed. He has multiple limbs, all of which wield different weapons, and no longer retains his sprite's battle pose, instead standing tall and upright and his armor has thinned. Despite his appearance change, Gilgamesh's personality remains the same.

Personality

While he is Exdeath's right-hand man, Gilgamesh is not necessarily evil, and does not share Exdeath's goals. Rather, Gilgamesh fights to prove himself and as a challenge. During their encounters Gilgamesh exchanges banter with the Warriors of Light, and while he claims to be a powerful fighter—and lore supports this—he often gives the Warriors excuses for running away mid-battle. Gilgamesh speaks in an upper class tone though he is clumsy and unrefined otherwise.

Story

Gilgamesh Xezat's Fleet

Gilgamesh appears on Xezat's fleet.

In an interview, Hironobu Sakaguchi has alluded to Gilgamesh's early life of growing up in a village of warriors. The Genji equipment sets were ancient and precious sets of armor from the village passed on to its best warriors upon proving their worth in battle. It is said that the centuries of "blood, sweat and dust" accumulated on the Genji equipment have made them extremely resistant.[1]

Gilgamesh came to work for Exdeath and is commanded to guard the prisoners Bartz, Lenna and Faris in Castle Exdeath. Galuf saves the trio and easily defeats Gilgamesh, and the latter runs off. When the party crosses the Big Bridge after escaping Castle Exdeath, Gilgamesh halts their progress. They defeat him even though he casts Protect, Shell and Haste on himself, and he makes up an excuse and runs off again.

Gilgamesh attacks the ship the party and Xezat are on during the battle to unlock the barrier surrounding Castle Exdeath, and brings an ally with him: Enkidu. The party defeats the duo, and Gilgamesh is thrown into the ocean after attempting to take Galuf with him. Swearing revenge, he swims off.

Gilgamesh Castle Exdeath

Gilgamesh reveals his true form in Castle Exdeath.

When the party attacks Castle Exdeath Gilgamesh attacks again, and halfway through the battle transforms into his true form, hoping to use the blade he had taken from a chest shortly before the fight, the Excalibur, to defeat the party. Finding himself unable to hurt the party, the sword turns out to be the Excalipoor, a weak replica. Exdeath banishes Gilgamesh to the Void as punishment for his incompetence.

Gilgamesh Necrophobe

Gilgamesh appears to help the party defeat Necrophobe.

Gilgamesh gets lost in the Void, fighting monster after monster, and when he runs into Bartz's party he at first mistakes them for monsters. Gilgamesh no longer wishes to serve Exdeath and simply wants to leave the Void, but realizes there is no escape. When the party attacks Necrophobe, Gilgamesh arrives to support the party. He sacrifices himself to save them and defeat Necrophobe. Though it is possible to defeat Necrophobe before Gilgamesh sacrifices himself, he will not appear again.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay

Gilgamesh is a recurring boss who knows many different Blue Magic spells, as well as the Dragoon's Jump.

Musical themes

Gilgamesh's leitmotiv, "Battle at the Big Bridge," debuted in Final Fantasy V, and plays during all encounters with him and at the Big Bridge. Variations of the theme have since been used to accompany Gilgamesh during many of his appearances outside of Final Fantasy V.

Creation and development

According to the fifth "Chocobo's FF Laboratory" feature published in the November 1993 edition of V-Jump, the initial design for Gilgamesh was created by Tetsuya Nomura, although Yoshitaka Amano was the one who drew the character's final artwork. The magazine states that Nomura's initial design looked like a cross between Gilgamesh's first and second in-game forms.[1]

Other appearances

Final Fantasy Record Keeper

The Final Fantasy V incarnation of Gilgamesh appears as a playable character and a boss.

Final Fantasy Brave Exvius

The Final Fantasy V incarnation of Gilgamesh appears as a summonable vision and a boss. As a playable unit, Gilgamesh is a 5-7★ Rare Summon. His job is listed as Guard Captain, and his role is Physical Damage. He appears as boss in the event The Big Bridge.

Gallery

Etymology

Gilgamesh is the main character of the Epic of Gilgamesh, an Akkadian poem considered the first great work of literature. He is a demigod with superhuman strength who builds the walls of Uruk to defend his people and travels to meet the sage Utnapishtim, a survivor of the Great Flood.

Gilgamesh is believed to have actually existed by many scholars. It is estimated he lived sometime between 2800 and 2500 BC. The Sumerian King List claims Gilgamesh ruled the city of Uruk for 126 years.

Gilgamesh in Final Fantasy is also based on Benkei, a famous character in the Japanese mythologies and chronicles of the Genpei War. A powerful warrior monk said to have personally defeated 200 men in every battle he engaged in and said to have had the strength of demons, Benkei's introduction sees him set out to collect 1,000 weapons, and to this end he posted himself at Gōjō Bridge in Kyoto and challenged every warrior who attempted to cross. On his 1000th duel Benkei was defeated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the only defeat he had ever known, and became his faithful retainer throughout the rest of his life.

From the story of Benkei, Gilgamesh takes his preference for the naginata (Benkei's traditional weapon as a monk), his penchant for fighting on bridges, his collecting of weapons from enemies he defeats, and his friendship with the player's characters who defeat him. Benkei's devotion to Yoshitsune is the basis for Gilgamesh's association with Genji equipment—the Minamoto Clan is also called the Genji Clan, using the alternate pronunciation for the Chinese characters for mina and moto, gen and uji, respectively. Gilgamesh's face paint is based on traditional kabuki actors, for which Benkei is a popular character to portray.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 V-Jump, チョコボのFF研究室 (Chokobo no FF Kenkyūshitsu?, lit. Chocobo's FF Laboratory), November 1993, p.188-192. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "vjump" defined multiple times with different content